Mac Mini - Audio Transfer to HD Monitors

macrumors newbie

I've just purchased a new Mac Mini. I have some questions about the audio transfering to Monitors.

As you know it has to display outputs. Mini Displayport and HDMI output.

I haven't bought a monitor yet. But I'm planning to use a monitor to which I'm planning to connect mac mini and a pc.

My questions are:

1. When connecting Mac mini to a monitor with Mini Display Port - Display port cable to a monitor, will it transfer the audio to the monitor?

2. In the original box of Mac Mini, it seems there is a HDMI to DVI adaptor. If I use this cable to connect it to a monitor, is the audio also going to be transferred?

Connecting with a mini display port - display port cable would provide higher resolution so if the audio also can be transferred via that cable it would be great. But I really need to know all the details about audio transfers of Mac Mini from these ports. In which case it is transferred or not...

macrumors 6502

I've just purchased a new Mac Mini. I have some questions about the audio transfering to Monitors.

As you know it has to display outputs. Mini Displayport and HDMI output.

I haven't bought a monitor yet. But I'm planning to use a monitor to which I'm planning to connect mac mini and a pc.

My questions are:

1. When connecting Mac mini to a monitor with Mini Display Port - Display port cable to a monitor, will it transfer the audio to the monitor?

2. In the original box of Mac Mini, it seems there is a HDMI to DVI adaptor. If I use this cable to connect it to a monitor, is the audio also going to be transferred?

Connecting with a mini display port - display port cable would provide higher resolution so if the audio also can be transferred via that cable it would be great. But I really need to know all the details about audio transfers of Mac Mini from these ports. In which case it is transferred or not...

Thanks,

Click to expand...

OK, let's see if I can answer these questions.

#1-No, use the audio output port.

#2.I don't use it, but I think not. Use the 6 foot MDP to DP cable ($15 from Kanexlive) for monitors with 2560x1600 res. I use it for an HP matte 30" monitor, ZR30w, for example. Then I use the audio output for sound via a USB directly to the monitor which then I connect to a simple USB speaker. But if you have headphone jack speakers, then use the audio out port.

P.S.- Meant to add-using the HDMI output is the easiest since vid is great and sound comes along too.

macrumors 65816

According to this MDP->HDMI adapter from NewerTech, the 2010 Mini is capable of carrying audio over the Mini DisplayPort. As another option, if your monitor isn't going to be larger than 1920x1200, then you can just use the HDMI connection.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind. If the monitor takes a DVI connection, the conversion from HDMI->DVI will eliminate the audio signal. Also, I'm not sure if monitors exist that take in the audio-over-displayport directly. In any event, if you are expecting any kind of decent audio quality from your setup, I doubt integrated speakers will fit the bill.

macrumors 6502

According to this MDP->HDMI adapter from NewerTech, the 2010 Mini is capable of carrying audio over the Mini DisplayPort. As another option, if your monitor isn't going to be larger than 1920x1200, then you can just use the HDMI connection.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind. If the monitor takes a DVI connection, the conversion from HDMI->DVI will eliminate the audio signal. Also, I'm not sure if monitors exist that take in the audio-over-displayport directly. In any event, if you are expecting any kind of decent audio quality from your setup, I doubt integrated speakers will fit the bill.

Click to expand...

Agree--I'd say use HDMI if your monitor (or HDTV) is not going to be larger than 1920x1200. The apple website gives you all audio options and it only talks about the audio out port and HDMI.

Another thought--if you buy an Apple monitor then via USB you will get audio to the Apple monitor with dual-link DVI connector.

macrumors 6502

So if i just use the hdmi output with a regular hdmi cable i will be able to transfer the audio. But the resolution won't be higher than 1920x1200.

To obtain 2560x1400 resolution i will need to use mdb to db connection but this time I'll need to use audio out to transfer audio to a speaker.

Right?

Click to expand...

Your thread starts with "HD monitor". That can mean different things to different people.

To me HD means an HDTV, i.e., 1080p via HDMI.

If you mean a computer monitor-the terminology is delineated by resolution-, i.e., up to 2560x1600. You need to buy a monitor that states whatever maximum resolution it will display, but in order to get that resolution you might require special cables. You usually use your MiniDisplayPort (MDP) to connect to that type of monitor.

For example, with my HP ZR30w which can resolve up to 2560x1600 (which my mini immediately recognizes), I use a MDP to DisplayPort cable from KanexLive (6 feet=$15) since the HP does not use MDP which seems to be nearly exclusively Apple porting.

thread startermacrumors newbie

Your thread starts with "HD monitor". That can mean different things to different people.

To me HD means an HDTV, i.e., 1080p via HDMI.

If you mean a computer monitor-the terminology is delineated by resolution-, i.e., up to 2560x1600. You need to buy a monitor that states whatever maximum resolution it will display, but in order to get that resolution you might require special cables. You usually use your MiniDisplayPort (MDP) to connect to that type of monitor.

For example, with my HP ZR30w which can resolve up to 2560x1600 (which my mini immediately recognizes), I use a MDP to DisplayPort cable from KanexLive (6 feet=$15) since the HP does not use MDP which seems to be nearly exclusively Apple porting.

Trust I at least explained by assumptions.

Click to expand...

You're right I was talking about a monitor. The reason I'm asking this is that I have only one speaker and two computers ( mac mini and a pc ). I want to connect the pc's audio out directly to the speaker and mac mini's audio out to the monitor. At the same time i also want to obtain highest resolution from mac mini and this is obtained with a mdp to dp cable. If i used an hdmi cable to connect mac mini to the monitor I would't be able to obtain 2560x1400 resolution but i would be able to transfer audio. If i use the mdp to dp cable then i will obtain the highest resolution but this time the audio won't be transferred. I suppose?

So I'm trying to decide what kind of monitor to but and which solution would fit the best my situation.

macrumors 6502

Thing is, for example, that HP ZR30w comes with a USB cable which makes it a hub and then any speaker that is USB compatible works on the mini through USB to the USB hub on the monitor. Take a look. HP makes many smaller monitors too in the $200-300 range are high quality.

IMHO, monitors that resolve 2560x1600 are 30". You're right-in this case you get 2560x1600 with MDP-DP, but no audio unless you use USB like I do with a USB speaker (got a simple one from HP for like $25) now to get both.

If you use USB for one computer and the 3.5mm audio out jack for the other computer, perhaps both will work at the same time.

Also just happen to think, blue tooth speakers would probably work too.

macrumors member

I've just purchased a new Mac Mini. I have some questions about the audio transfering to Monitors.
As you know it has to display outputs. Mini Displayport and HDMI output.
1. When connecting Mac mini to a monitor with Mini Display Port - Display port cable to a monitor, will it transfer the audio to the monitor?
2. In the original box of Mac Mini, it seems there is a HDMI to DVI adaptor. If I use this cable to connect it to a monitor, is the audio also going to be transferred?
Connecting with a mini display port - display port cable would provide higher resolution so if the audio also can be transferred via that cable it would be great. But I really need to know all the details about audio transfers of Mac Mini from these ports. In which case it is transferred or not,

macrumors 6502

You might right about MDP supporting audio out. It seems to me that its the MDP cable that actually takes the audio signal through, but maybe I'm wrong on that. I guess that would be the cable on the dual-link DVI cable that carries the audio signal combined with the DVI on the other end.

The Apple site Mini tech specs only lists 4 audio outs on the mini. Check this out and let me know what you think.

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